B-Movie Star

This came from Disney's Family Fun site. It's just too cute - and it would be a lot warmer to make this snowman than one outside!

Ingredients

* 1 3/4 cups cake flour
* 1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa
* 1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
* 1/2 tsp. baking soda
* 1/2 tsp. salt
* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 3 large eggs
* 1 tsp. vanilla extract
* 1 cup milk
* 1 1/2 cups vanilla frosting
* Shredded coconut (optional)
* 2 black licorice drops
* 1 large orange gumdrop
* Red shoestring licorice
* Red fruit leather
* 3 starlight mints
* 3 small gumdrops
* 2 sticks chocolate licorice

*Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour two ovenproof glass bowls, one slightly larger than the other. (Note: For our cake, we used one bowl with a 1-liter capacity and 6-inch diameter and the other with a 1 1/2-liter capacity and 7-inch diameter.)

*To make the cake, mix the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl. Sift the ingredients onto waxed paper and return to the bowl.

*In a separate bowl, blend the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract.

*Alternately, add the flour mixture and the milk to the batter in thirds, combining well after each addition. Fill the bowls about two thirds full. Bake the smaller cake for about 50 minutes and the larger cake for about 65 minutes.

*When done, the surface will spring back when touched and a toothpick inserted in the center will come out clean. Cool in the bowls for 10 minutes. Then invert onto a large, rectangular platter (about 17 by 12 inches) so the cakes resemble a snowman. Cool completely.

*Ice the cakes with the vanilla frosting, then sprinkle with shredded coconut, if desired. Add licorice drop eyes, insert an orange gumdrop nose and fashion a broad smile with shoestring licorice.

*For the scarf, cut two 2-inch-wide strips of fruit leather, notch the ends and wrap around the neck of the snowman. For the buttons, use starlight mints topped with gumdrops. Finish off the snowman with two chocolate licorice arms. Serves 10 to 12.

Popularity: 3% [?]

I love the smell of cinnamon and spices around Christmastime.  It's especially nice when the weather has been bad and every one's been cooped up in the house. My sister used to make these cinnamon-applesauce ornaments. They smell wonderful, and if the scent of them begins to fade, you can just add a bit of cinnamon oil to them and renew their fragrance. Another cool thing about them is that you can use them for so many things! My sister made wreaths out of them, tree ornaments, and swag decorations. You could also use them as scented drawer fresheners (with your kitchen towels might be nice) or you could even use paint pens and make gift tags with them! They are super easy to make so it would be a great project to do with kids - plus it's inexpensive! Wow, this could possibly be the perfect Christmas activity!

I think these decorations look great plain - they have that "rustic" feel, or you could decorate them to the hilt with glitter and paint, or use royal icing to make them look like storybook gingerbread decorations. Here is the basic recipe, and I've included a royal icing recipe - it dries hard and will last!

CINNAMON DOUGH ORNAMENTS

Ingredients:

* 1 1/2 cups ground cinnamon
* 1 cup applesauce
* 1/4 cup white school glue (like Elmer's)
* Plastic wrap
* Rolling pin
* Wax paper
* Cookie cutters or a knife
* Ribbon or yarn for hanging
* Straw

1. Mix cinnamon, applesauce, and glue together in a bowl. The dough should be as thick as cookie dough. Add a bit of water if the dough is too stiff.
2. Remove from bowl and knead until everything is mixed together well. Return dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let sit for about 30 minutes.
3. Knead again to make sure the dough is smooth. Flatten or roll the dough between waxed paper until it's roughly 1/4 to 1/8 inch thick.
4. With a cookie cutter, cut out desired shapes. Use a straw to punch a hole for the ribbon.
5. Carefully transfer the cookies to a piece of wax paper. They will take a couple of days to dry. You can speed up the drying by setting the ornaments in a 200 - 250 degree oven until dry. Just keep a close eye and don't let them burn!

ROYAL ICING

* 3 ounces egg whites (or 3 Tbsp. meringue powder plus 6 Tbsp. water)
* 1 tsp. vanilla
* 4 cups powdered sugar

1. In large bowl the egg whites (or meringue powder and water) and vanilla and beat until frothy.
2. Gradually add powdered sugar and mix on low speed until sugar is incorporated and mixture is shiny.
3. Turn speed up to high and beat until mixture forms stiff, glossy peaks. This should take approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Add food coloring, if desired.
4. Transfer icing to pastry bag or heavy duty ziploc bag and pipe as desired.

Here's a wreath that you could make - just use hot glue!

Or a nice garland - add oranges, cinnamon sticks, and bay leaves for a "scentsational" decoration

Here's one of those "gifts in jar" that are really popular around Christmas - I think it would be adorable to tie one of these cinnamon decorations to the lid as a gift tag.

I also saw this photo, now I'm not crazy about the actual arrangement, but it gave me the idea that you could use these cinnamon ornaments in a flower or plant arrangement - hot glue the ornament to a stake and insert.  This photo is cute because you could make a small arrangement in a large measuring cup, add some measuring spoons and maybe a hot pad, and a recipe for apple cinnamon crisp and VOILA - adorable gift for a neighbor! (Don't forget to add your cinnamon decoration gift tag!)

Lastly, don't forget the glitter, which really, makes everything much better. If you come up with some more ideas on how to use these, I'd love to hear them!

Popularity: 20% [?]

I have seen some fabulous wreaths on the internet, and all of them you can make for yourself! Which one do you like best? I just can't decide!

This first wreath is made from paper - the tutorial to make it is at The Red Thread

Another really lovely paper wreath is from Razzle Dazzle Crafting - I love the texture on this one:

This charming rag wreath made from strips of fabric comes from Create Studio - this would look so cute with a rustic theme Christmas!

Instead of cloth, how about making a lovely wreath out of cranberries! So beautiful! There is a tutorial to make yourself one at The Idea Room

Another wreath that looks good enough to eat - BUT ISN"T! is this fun gumdrop wreath from A Pretty Cool life.

Here is another really fun and easy wreath from Better Homes and Gardening - this would be so easy to make, and it looks so adorable!

Lastly, one of my favorite ones - because my grandma used to have one of these and I always loved it, a Christmas bulb wreath. Eddie Ross shows you how to make this one and it's a lot more easy than it looks! His turned out just gorgeous!

Popularity: 30% [?]

Every year in our area the Salvation Army has a Thanksgiving Dinner for anyone who wants to attend. Local businesses in the area donate the food and volunteers serve the meal. I'm sure in every area it's different. One year when I lived in a larger town, the dinner was held in a large auditorium and we worked on a "cafeteria style" line, serving food as people carried their tray along.  I live in a smaller area now and the Salvation Army Dinner is held at the local Applebees Restaurant. The Restaurant donates it's facility and many of it's staff members.  Not only can anyone come to the restaurant and eat Thanksgiving Dinner, there is also a delivery service. People call in and volunteers drive hot meals to their homes.

It's such a wonderful thing to be part of. Everyone is coming together -  you feel a happy sense of cammeraderie with all the volunteers and people who come to eat the meal. When we volunteer we all go as a family. I've noticed that  many people bring their children to volunteer too. The kids love to serve drinks or bus tables - whatever is needed for them to do.  It's such a great way to teach kids the wonderful message of sharing and caring for everyone in our world!

If you don't have anyone who wants to volunteer with you, don't let that stop you! I'm a pretty shy person (before you get to know me) but there was never time for that when I volunteered. You're so busy working and everyone was so friendly, it was easy to feel right at home. I think the thing that surprised me about working at the dinners is how many people are alone on the holidays. Many of them can afford to buy a dinner, they just don't have anyone to share it with. I think that's so sad, and I'm so happy that there is someplace for people to go where they won't be alone on a holiday. Many people who ate the dinners would donate to the Salvation Army, but of course this isn't necessary at all - they just wanted to help out too!

I highly recommend incorporating this tradition of  "Giving" into your own Thanksgiving Day. The Salvation Army website has lot of information about volunteering, and I'm sure that there are plenty of other organizations in your particular area that is working this holiday to share food, company and a bit of happiness with others in the community. Really - you will not regret it. We usually volunteer to work in the early morning or early afternoon and there's still plenty of time to go home and enjoy a Thanksgiving Dinner with your family!

There is nothing like volunteering to help others to make you clearly see how much you have to be thankful for in your own life!

Popularity: 2% [?]

Lori at Fresh Picked Whimsy had the most wonderful idea - at Thanksgiving she asked everyone in her family to paint a self portrait. Then she grouped them together into a really beautiful work of art. I so love this idea. I love that everyone participated and that it's so full of personality - and personal touches.  I know that most adults get all freaked out about having to create a piece of art, but you can see from this how wonderful everyone's turned out, even if they didn't consider themselves "artists."

I would love to do this on Thanksgiving - I'm seriously considering it, I know I'll have to twist the arms of some family members to get them to do it - but wow, wouldn't the results be worth it?  I think it would also be a nice idea to incorporate the portraits into your Christmas cards - so much more intresting than the typical "family portrait" that most people send out. For more info and to read exactly how Lori made this happen, check out her blog. It's full of other lovely ideas and artwork, too!

Popularity: 2% [?]

I've decided that this year to help count our blessings we will create a Thanksgiving Tree.  I found a really beautiful tree and leaf pattern at Chocolate On My Cranium that is free to download.

I printed off the tree in tiles so that it's about 22 inches tall and 17 inches wide (four standard sheets of paper). Then I taped it together and hung it up. I printed out a few pages of the lovely leaves and cut them out and filled a bowl with them. Everyday we are going to write one new thing we are thankful for and hang the leaves on the tree. By the time Thanksgiving arrives, we should have quite a lovely tree!

Popularity: 4% [?]

Have you already seen this? Am I just behind the times because I hadn't and I was really amazed by it - a photograph of Vincent VanGogh! Wow.

This was found with the following information:

Vincent van Gogh

It is proven that this photograph is of Vincent van Gogh. It is thought that it is the photograph he painted his self portraits from. The information on the mount of this ca1886, 4 1/2" X 5 1/2", photograph identifies the artist as Victor Morin, 42 RUE ST. FRANCOIS, ST HYACINTHE. IF you have any information about Victor Morin and his travels please forward it to the link below. Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.  contact info@vangoghfoto.com

I adore Vincent Van Gogh's work so I was really amazed to see an actual photo of him. it really does look like his self portraits.

"But I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things." Vincent

Popularity: 2% [?]

Love this. I'm a nerd.

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On the morning after Jack Benny died in 1974, his wife, Mary, received a single long-stemmed rose. Another arrived the next day, and the next. For the first few weeks she was too numb to wonder where they were coming from, but eventually she called the florist to inquire.

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Oodles and Oodles has posted some pages from her 1926 Dennison Bogie Book, as well as some pages from a 1952 Dennison Crepe Paper Costume Book (for those with a LOT of time and patience).

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